I want to welcome you back to the Prospect Park as we return to WordPress as our home for this season. Please excuse the mess as the site is under construction as I learn how to use the tools here. The decision to return back here was in part because X or Twitter’s childish spat with Substack made it impossible to show you guys the plays that make these prospects the special players that they are.
Ten prospects took to the ice on Friday and the results are encouraging for what looks to be a good season.
Sophomore forward Brody Lamb had a nice season debut with his first NCAA career multi-goal game with two goals as his top-ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers needed overtime before edging the St. Thomas Tommies 6-5. Both of Lamb’s goals came in the third period as the Golden Gophers needed a rally to earn this win.
With his team trailing 4-3 and mom and dad in the stands, Lamb’s first goal was an unassisted goal coming at 2:08 of the period as he intercepted the puck just inside the blueline skated in and fired it past a helpless Tommies goalie.
Last year losing a mere 10 seconds into overtime in the championship finals made for a hard off-season but Gopher’s coach Bob Motzko is counting on Lamb for a big season this year. The Rangers used a fourth-round pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft on Lamb, it is time for Lamb to reward the Ranger’s faith in him.
Freshman defenseman Drew Fortescue’s first NCAA goal/point was a pretty one as his fifth-ranked Boston College Eagles rallied to defeat Long Island University 4-2 in non-conference action. In the first period with his team trailing 2-1, Fortescue grabbed a loose puck at the blueline, skated to the top of the faceoff circle and snapped a low shot that beat the LIU goalie to tie the game at 2-2.
Sophomore right wing Jaroslav Chmelar scored his second goal of the season as his 15th-ranked Providence Friars had little trouble defeating Stonehill 7-1 in non-conference play. Chmelar’s goal was the Friar’s sixth of the game coming in the third period.
The goal was a nice, backhanded shot from in the slot.
For some reason Chmelar is being used as the third line right wing but he is 2-2-4 after three games so doubt he will remain on the third line for long.
Center Dylan Roobroeck had a two-assist game as his Oshawa Generals defeated the Saginaw Spirit 6-4 in OHL action. Roobroeck a 6’7 center, recorded the primary assists on the Generals fourth and fifth goals with the latter goal becoming the game winner.
For Roobroeck, the 0-2-2 game was part of a four shot performance but he was 6-10 on his faceoffs. For the season, Roobroeck is now 2-5-7 after five games.
Forward Ty Henricks scored his first goal of the season as his Muskegon Lumberjacks fell to the Madison Capitals 4-1 in USHL action. The 6’3.5 215 lb. forward also picked up a slashing minor as he improved to 1-1-2 after five games.
Junior defenseman Victor Mancini recorded two primary assists as his Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks opened their season with an 8-1 non-conference win over the Niagara University Purple Eagles. The assists came on third and eighth goals.
Mancini, who has played 71 NCAA games with the Mavericks, is still looking for his first goal.
Left wing Maxim Barbashev made his debut with the Shawinigan Cataractes of the QMJHL, a good one with a two-assist night as the Cataractes defeated the Quebec Remparts 6-2. Barbashev was reassigned from Hartford earlier this week and recorded secondary assists on the Cataractes second and fifth goals.
The young left wing was credited with one shot and won one faceoff.
Center Bryce McConnell-Barker was scoreless on three scoring chances with a -1 as his Soo Greyhounds lost to the Ottawa 67’s 2-1 in OHL play. The captain of the Greyhounds was 17-7 on his faceoffs and is 2-4-6 start in seven games.
Defenseman Rasmus Larsson was scoreless on one shot as his Green Bay Gamblers defeated the Des Moine Buccaneers 5-1 in USHL play. Larsson is 1-3-4 in seven games so far for the Gamblers.
Did Not Play
Noah Laba missed his Colorado College Tigers home opener against Union College as he was serving a one-game suspension. Laba was kicked out of last week’s exhibition game against Simon Fraser which comes with an automatic one-game suspension.
Hugo Ollas served as the backup goalie as his 13th-ranked Merrimack Warriors played Arizona State in non-conference action on Friday. Barring injury, Ollas and Zachary Borgiel will split the goaltending duties as they have for the last two seasons.